If Bernier misses time, Maple Leafs in good hands with Reimer

Maple Leafs goalie Jonathan Bernier makes a save on Kings’ Marian Gaborik during the first period at Staples Center on Thursday. Bernier’s lower-body injury doesn’t look to be serious. (USA TODAY/photo)

The Maple Leafs goaltender was on his knees following the team’s morning skate on Thursday at the Staples Center, taking his time getting off the ice and pondering his season as a whole.

“It’s no surprise it has been a little tougher year than I would have expected, and things have not really gone my way,” Reimer said. “I was just thinking about the season and maybe some things I need to do or what was going on. There are really no solutions, it was just thinking.”

Reimer might have to do more than just think about the game in the next little while, depending on the status of No. 1 netminder Jonathan Bernier.

Reimer had his best performance of the season on Thursday night against the Kings, stopping all 31 shots he saw in the final 40 minutes after Bernier had left the game with a lower-body injury.

Bernier was to be evaluated on Friday as the Leafs travelled to Washington for a game against the Capitals on Sunday. If Bernier is injured for any length of time — the understanding was that his injury was not thought to be serious — the Leafs would have to recall a goalie, likely Drew MacIntyre, from the Toronto Marlies.

But upon landing in Washington, Leafs vice-president of hockey operations Dave Poulin said in an e-mail that a recall of MacIntyre, if it was to happen, would be a precautionary option, and that the team still was working through it. The team will know more about Bernier’s condition on Saturday.

MacIntyre backed up Christopher Gibson on Friday night when the Marlies played in Rochester against the Americans.

Reimer, making just his third appearance in the Leafs net since Jan. 25, was spectacular versus Los Angeles, slamming the door on a Kings team that was unable to keep his eight-game winning streak from ending.

Let Reimer’s performance be a lesson for those who wanted him traded at the NHL trade deadline last week, if not before. General manager David Nonis commendably stood firm in his desire to keep Reimer, undoubtedly realizing that a potential injury to Bernier would be troublesome if Reimer was gone.

If Reimer has to carry the bulk of the workload for the next little while, there shouldn’t be a doubt as to whether he is capable. He has proven as much at times in the past. Reimer’s numbers are not on par with those of Bernier, but it shouldn’t be a reason for panic in Leafs Nation.

The performance against the Kings, though, would be hard to top.

“The one thing was, there was not any rebounds,” coach Randy Carlyle said. “Rebound control was definitely in his favour and with any goalie, if you can control your rebounds, we can eliminate those second and third opportunities.”

The play of Reimer was the best part of the win for the Leafs, but there were other notables. When Nazem Kadri set up Dion Phaneuf for a power-play goal in the first period, it was just the second time in 25 chances the Leafs got a goal with a man-advantage.

“It’s just getting back in the rhythm,” Kadri said. “We were a little cold coming off that (Olympic) break, things were a little tough. A lot of times (the power play) has got us out of trouble and given us a leg up in games. We just have to continue doing what we do and get that confidence to make the plays we know we can make.”

The Leafs will face a Washington team that is trying to stay relevant in the wild-card race. Going into their home game against the Vancouver Canucks on Friday night, the Caps had 70 points and were three back of the Philadelphia Flyers for the second and final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

If it’s Reimer in goal again, his teammates are fine with that.

“Whoever is in there, they are battling to the last puck,” forward Mason Raymond said. “Coming in cold, if you will, off the bench, (Reimer) was great. Those are the saves you need.”

Said Phaneuf: “For Reims to come in and take over from where Bernie left off and to really control the game, settle the game down and make those saves for us, it’s a huge effort by him. He played exceptional.”

LEAFS LOOKING TO GIVE CAPS KING-SIZED TREATMENT

The Maple Leafs’ game plan for the Washington Capitals is simple.

“Duplicate more of what we did against Anaheim and L.A.,” Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said on Thursday night, minutes after the Leafs had beaten the Kings 3-2.

The Leafs rebounded nicely from a poor effort two nights earlier in San Jose, when they were dominated by the Sharks. A night previous, they got great goaltending from Jonathan Bernier and timely scoring to beat the Ducks.

“We were a lot harder to play against (in the game versus the Kings),” Carlyle said. “We took the body.

“We have tried to build on the last game we won in Anaheim, (show that) we can play with the good teams in the league and we have to impose our will too. It is a war of attrition out there and you win your share of battles along the wall, you can create with speed.”

The Leafs’ five-game trip ends on Tuesday in Detroit against the Red Wings.

If Bernier misses time, Maple Leafs in good hands with Reimer

The Maple Leafs goaltender was on his knees following the team’s morning skate on Thursday at the Staples Center, taking his time getting off the ice and pondering his season as a whole.

“It’s no surprise it has been a little tougher year than I would have expected, and things have not really gone my way,” Reimer said. “I was just thinking about the season and maybe some things I need to do or what was going on. There are really no solutions, it was just thinking.”

Reimer might have to do more than just think about the game in the next little while, depending on the status of No. 1 netminder Jonathan Bernier.

Reimer had his best performance of the season on Thursday night against the Kings, stopping all 31 shots he saw in the final 40 minutes after Bernier had left the game with a lower-body injury.